Lady Eagles Play Friday With Emily In Their Hearts

Emily Huntington

Stratton Karstetter Funeral Home

(Osgood, Ind.) - The Jac-Cen-Del High School girls basketball team may not only be battling their opponent when they take the court Friday night.

They’ll be fighting back tears as well.

Tonight’s Ripley County Tournament game is the team’s first since senior guard Emily Huntington died in a car crash Friday, December 30.

Head coach Scott Smith says dealing with Huntington’s passing is the biggest challenge he’s had to confront, coaching or otherwise.

“As a teammate, no one could have asked for better. She was one of our co-captains and a great leader, by words and example. She was the kids that everyone thought of as their best friend,” Smith told Eagle 99.3.

Huntington, 18, was the Lady Eagle’s leading scorer at 11.5 points per game and ranked in the top 20 in the state in three-point shooting. The former Eagle 99.3 Athlete of the Week also played on the school golf team, was a National Honors Society student, and volunteered time with the Ripley County Humane Society.

Jac-Cen-Del has only had two practices since the tragedy a week ago, though the team spent most every waking moment from the night of the accident until Huntington’s Tuesday funeral together. Those practices have been emotional

“Right now we focus on each other. We try to use basketball as an escape from the moment for them,” Smith said.

“This is life for all of us, dealing with loss, permanent loss. But the fact that it happened during basketball season made it a part of our team’s lives that we all must do our best to get through. How do you explain the unexplainable? You don’t. You just try to celebrate her memory and convince the kids that life does go on and that we can’t further the tragedy by stopping our lives.”

There will be a moment of silence for Emily prior to Friday night’s Ripley County Tournament first round game versus Batesville.

Then, it’s time to push forward with one empty seat on the Jac-Cen-Del bench. 

“We will step on the court tonight and each do our best for our team and for Em,” Smith said.

The Ripley County Tournament had been scheduled to begin Tuesday, but was postponed to Friday after Huntington’s death. The girls tournament consolation and championship games will be played Monday evening beginning at 5:30.

Smith said Huntington will also be honored on senior night January 31. Several events are being planned to aid the establishment of a scholarship fund, including “Pack the Gym for Em” and raising awareness among the community about the hazards of texting while driving.

LINKS:

Visitation Today For Osgood Teen

Jac-Cen-Del Student Dies In Crash